Senior Controls Engineer - Precision Automation & Commissioning

Connect Force; Livonia (MI); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Force Recruiting is partnering with a well-established precision machinery manufacturer in the Farmington Hills area to hire a Senior Controls Engineer. You will design, program, troubleshoot, startup, and optimize advanced industrial machinery and automation systems.

The role requires strong PLC and HMI expertise, experience with electrical controls, and close collaboration with mechanical, software, service, and customer teams. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years in controls engineering or automation.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience.
• HMI development and electrical controls troubleshooting.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and technical documentation.
• Experience with industrial machinery or custom equipment.
• Hands-on troubleshooting in shop-floor, build, or field service.
• Cross-functional collaboration and clear communication.
• Safety-focused and detail-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, troubleshoot, and support PLC and HMI programs for advanced industrial machinery.
• Support controls engineering activities for custom machine builds, retrofits, upgrades, and customer-specific projects.
• Troubleshoot electrical, software, automation, and machine-control issues during build, startup, commissioning, and service.
• Work with PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, motion systems, safety circuits, and industrial communication networks.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, controls drawings, machine layouts, and technical documentation.
• Support machine startup, debug, validation, customer acceptance, and field commissioning activities.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, electrical design, service, production, and international technical teams.
• Provide technical support for customers, internal service teams, and production personnel.
• Assist with controls standards, documentation, process improvements, and troubleshooting best practices.
• Maintain a strong focus on machine safety, quality, reliability, and long-term equipment performance.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

Troubleshooting

Electrical schematics

Cross-functional teamwork

Safety compliance

Tools

Siemens PLCs

TIA Portal

Profinet

Ethernet/IP

Profibus

Job description

Connect Force Recruiting is partnering with a well-established precision machinery manufacturer in the Farmington Hills area to hire a Senior Controls Engineer. You will design, program, troubleshoot, startup, and optimize advanced industrial machinery and automation systems.

The role requires strong PLC and HMI expertise, experience with electrical controls, and close collaboration with mechanical, software, service, and customer teams. Occasional travel may be required.